The Ball family had the Staples Center crowd buzzing Monday night after their unforgettable appearance with The Miz on WWE Raw, the latest instance in a long and storied history of figures from the professional sports world dusting it up in the squared circle.
The intertwining of professional athletes and professional wrestling goes back decades. Muhammad Ali's bouts with Antonio Inoki and Gorilla Monsoon, as well as his guest-refereeing of the main event at the first WrestleMania, are still some of the most talked-about moments in pro wrestling history. One of Ali's most legendary adversaries, Joe Frazier, gave the striped shirt a try once, officiating one of Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes' famous bouts.
From Lawrence Taylor headlining WrestleMania XI, to Mike Tyson delivering Stone Cold Steve Austin his first world title, to Rob Gronkowski's memorable charge into the ring at last April's WrestleMania 33, pro wrestling's colorful history is illuminated with memorable appearances from the pro sports world.
What's your favorite memory? Rank the best ones below:
Given LaVar's outsized, occasionally cartoonish persona, we're sure this won't be the last time we see the Ball family at a WWE event.
-- Brendan C. Hall
